Advanced Chamber Program for piano

The work

The first week focuses on chamber music and small ensemble performance opportunities. Pianists will be placed in appropriate chamber ensembles, in addition to master classes, discussions, and coaching time with professional musicians.  Each chamber group will have ample time to work together to develop a sense of ensemble and prepare material for performance. Much of this work will be performed at the end of the project. In the second week, students will have a variety of additional experiences which may include mentoring younger students, working with large choruses or orchestras, or independent study opportunities guided by our master teachers.

 

Special opportunities and performances

During the 2020 Music Institute summer programs, many guest artists will interact with our Advanced Chamber Music Program students. Sun Valley Music Festival soloists will be performing, and Associate Conductor Sameer Patel will lead the Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, students will interact with various musicians from the Sun Valley Festival Orchestra in special discussions and master classes. Individual, chamber, and large ensemble performances reflect the diversity and quality of the program and its participants. Students in the program perform on the stage in the world-class Sun Valley Pavilion. More intimate performances occur in the theater at The Community School. These performances may be augmented by even more intimate salon concerts and mini pop-up events around town.

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Program details

Schedule may vary

Week One:

  • 8:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 Piano classes or independent practice
  • 10:30 Break
  • 10:45 Small Ensemble rehearsal with string students
  • 11:45 Piano Ensemble coaching or master classes
  • 12:45 Lunch
  • 1:30 Attend Festival Orchestra rehearsals, master classes, workshops
  • 4:00  Piano Ensemble coaching or rehearsal with string ens.
  • 5:15 Dinner on the lawn at The Pavilion (performance day)
  • 6:00 Attend Festival Orchestra concert (or private rehearsal time on non-performance day)

 

Week Two:

  • 8:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 Assist with younger piano groups or independent practice
  • 10:30 Break
  • 10:45 Piano Ensemble rehearsal
  • 12:30 Lunch
  • 1:30 Attend Festival Orchestra rehearsal (or private rehearsal time)
  • 4:00 Piano or String Ensemble coaching
  • 5:30 Dinner on the lawn at The Pavilion (performance day)
  • 6:30 Attend Festival Orchestra concert (or private rehearsal time on non-performance day)

Advanced Chamber Program students have a variety of performance opportunities. Students will participate in many of the performances below depending on their musical discipline. More details will be discussed the first week of the program.

 

Large concerts in conjunction with week-long program for students in grades 2-12

Afternoon Pavilion concert

Friday Aug. 7, 3:00 PM

Groups performing: Prelude Strings, Prelude Choir, Concert Choir (Intermediate Choir), Philharmonia Orchestra, select piano ensembles, select string, and woodwind or brass ensembles

Advanced Chamber Program students serving as teaching assistants for any of these groups will perform with them.

 

Evening Pavilion concert

Friday Aug. 7, 6:30 PM

Groups performing: Sun Valley Youth Orchestra, Chamber Singers (Advanced High School Voice), select piano ensembles, and select ensembles. This concert
includes a Grand Finale featuring combined SVYO, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir, select woodwind, brass, and percussion students.

Advanced Chamber Program students may perform on either or both of the concerts listed above

 

Intimate recitals featuring Advanced Chamber Program students in all disciplines:

The Advanced Chamber Program concert featuring string and piano students

Saturday, Aug. 8

Community School Theater. Details TBA

 

Additionally, Advanced Chamber Program students may perform impromptu pop-up concerts in town. These will be announced as they are scheduled.

Advanced Chamber Program students, please bring both black and white concert blouses or dress shirts with you in case your ensemble decides to go with white tops instead of black for ensemble performances.

Pavilion concerts: All students will wear the Music Institute polo shirt they will receive during the first few days of the program. Additional guidelines:

  • Ladies: black dress pants or skirts (knee length or longer), black dress shoes (flats or low heels, no spiky high heels).
  • Gentlemen: Black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes (no jeans or athletic shoes).

Chamber ensembles: Concert Black unless otherwise discussed with your ensemble and department head or coach (black dress shirt or blouse, black pants or knee length or longer skirt, black dress shoes, black socks for guys).

Opera workshops: To be determined by Opera Workshops director.

All students applying for the Advanced Chamber Program must submit audition materials to be considered for the program. Please review the instructions below carefully. If you have questions, contact the Music Institute.

Recording submission general instructions

  • Audition recordings are required for this program. Your application will not be processed until recordings are received. Please upload YouTube links, or MP3 files into the boxes provided in the application.
  • High quality studio recordings are not necessary; a recording from a smartphone is fine provided it is a good representation of your work.
  • Private YouTube recordings are preferred. If you have questions about how to record and post private YouTube recordings, contact the Music Institute.
  • If you are submitting your application without work samples and need to forward the links at a later date, links may be emailed to education@svmusicfestival.org. Please label the email and the sample clearly.

 

What to submit

Three work samples are required.

  • First selection: One major and one minor rendition of a scale or arpeggio.
  • Second selection: One piece from the Baroque or Classical time period.
  • Third selection: One contrasting piece (please no show tunes or popular music).

Students in the Advanced Chamber Program have several housing options

  • Community School Residence Hall
    • Students age 16 or above may board in the Community School Residence Hall. These double-occupancy, dormitory-style rooms are made available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
    • The fee for this 13 night stay is $750 and includes all meals.
    • Scholarships are available to help cover the cost of housing.
    • Please download a copy of the Housing Application form here.
  • Many students choose to find their own accommodations during their stay in Sun Valley. As a resort community, the Wood River Valley (the communities of Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue) offers a broad range of lodging options.
    • Students not boarding in the Residence Hall must provide Music Institute staff with details regarding their accommodations.
  • A very limited number of home stays may be available for students younger than 16 who are not eligible to stay in the Residence Hall. Please contact the education office for details.

Acceptance into the Advanced Chamber Program is competitive and is based on application information and audition recording as well as program needs.

Students not accepted into the Advanced Chamber Program are encouraged to enroll in the appropriate summer program for students in grades 2-12

Notification of acceptance will be sent to students in early MAY along with a statement of fees due.

Fees:

Due to the generosity of Festival donors, tuition for the summer program is. Students pay only  application and materials fees as described below.

Student Registration fees as described below are due JUNE 10, 2020. A late fee of $35.00 will be assessed for balance of fees due that are submitted after JUNE 10, 2020. If you need additional time to pay or would like to pay in installments, please contact the Music Institute.

Application fee: $30 (due at time of application, non-refundable)

Registration/materials fee: $220.00 includes Music Institute polo shirt required for performances (billed to you upon acceptance)

TOTAL PROGRAM FEES: $250.00

 

Private lessons:

Some disciplines include private sessions with their instructors during the 2-week program, additional private lessons are optional and subject to availability of instructors at the following rate:
$65/hr. $35/half –hour

 

Room and board (if applicable, see Housing Options):

$750 per student based on double occupancy for 13 nights, meals
included. $50 deposit due at time of application will be credited to this total; the deposit will be refunded if you are not accepted.
Balance of boarding fees are due in full by July 10, 2020.

 

Cancellation:

Application fee is non-refundable. No fees (including registration and boarding fees) will be refunded after July 20, 2020. Partial refunds may be granted prior to July 20, contact the Education Office for details.

Please understand the importance of making a commitment to this program. Since ensembles are formed and music is sent in advance, it is not easy to replace group members at the last minute. Out of respect for your fellow group members, please inform us by JUNE 10, 2020 if you are unable to attend for any reason. A last-minute cancellation may affect your acceptance in future years.

Scholarships are available and are awarded based on the following criterion:

  • Financial need of the student
  • Talent of the student in a specific discipline
  • Needs of the program to strengthen a particular ensemble or group.

In general, the maximum award is for half the cost of tuition and boarding.

Download a Scholarship Application here.

Discounts apply to Advanced Chamber Program students only and may be credited to registration fees and/or room and board only. Students are still eligible to apply for scholarships. Discounts will be applied pending verification.

 

Bring a new friend!

Refer a new friend and receive $25 off your fees (up to 3 friends). Your friends receive a $25 discount too!

  • Returning students who attended the Music Institute summer programs during 2016- 2018 are eligible
  • A new student can only be claimed by one returning student; new students must list you as referring student on their application; new student cannot have attended the Music Institute in the past
  • Does not apply to immediate family members of returning student

 

State/Regional/National

Students participating in a State, Regional, or National Honor Group or students placing first or second in State Solo Honor Groups or accredited concerto competitions are eligible for up to $50 discount on fees.

  • All-State, All-Northwest (or other region) are examples of Honor Groups
  • District honor clinics, festivals, state solo qualifiers (ie large group festival) are NOT eligible
  • List honor groups in your application

 

Competition placement

Students placing first or second in State Solo or accredited concerto competitions are eligible for up to a $50 discount

  • List competitions and placement on your application form
  • All competitions must be accredited and rank students first, second, third, etc.
  • Regional festivals or National Federation of Music Clubs festivals that give ratings such as superior, excellent, etc. are NOT eligible for a discount
  • District solo and ensemble qualifiers for State Solo are NOT eligible for a discount

 

Teaching assistant

Students interested in working with some of our younger musicians may be eligible for up to a discount on their fees. Contact the Music Institute for details.

  • Regular meals are provided for students boarding in the Residence Hall only.
  • All other students should bring a sack lunch daily as there is no access to restaurants on campus.
  • There may be occasional special events where dinner is provided.
  • Light snacks will be served at breaks each day.
  • Students must attend all assigned classes and rehearsals. If you must leave for some reason you must notify a staff person.
  • Campus is closed. Students are expected to remain on campus for the duration of the program each day including lunch breaks unless arrangements have been made and cleared by the Site-Coordinator.
  • There is no formal dress code, but students are expected to dress respectfully while on campus or participating in program events. No bare midriffs, short shorts, or t-shirts with distasteful slogans or logos.
  • Concert attire: The program polo shirt received at check in, black pants or black knee length or longer skirts, black dress shoes, and black socks for boys.Students should also bring both black and white concert dress shirts for small ensemble performances. Please see Performance Opportunities section for more details as some recitals have slightly different options.

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